Death of a Maori.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 43, 20 February 1904, Page 4

Death of a Maori.

YOUNG AIAN CIIAHdED WITH I MANSLAUOHTKIt. i 1 An inquest was opened ait Hawera yesterday touching V.ie death of Awaturi, a Maori. H. L. A'.h.botl, a young m(in, a blacksmith at Egmont Village, appeared in custody, Inninggiven hiniscH up the previous evening at Ing'lewood. The Hawera Star reports that ihe, jury went .out to Taiporo'ienui a-

'boul mid-day to view the hotly. On arrival at the pah it was found that there were about two hundred Maoris assembled, and a council of chiefs took place to decide whether they would permit the body to be removed. Mr llroughton, member of the Maori Council, and Kuril explained the position to the Maori chiefs, and after a short discussion

the removal of the l.jody to the morgue was agreed to. Ruin theu addressed tile natives, und apprised them of the. decision. He pointed out that the body was not being handed over to the pakehas except as representatives of the law, and he insisted that it should he given up. He would listen to no objection to the course that had been deciihd upon. When the harangue was finished, there was not a murmur of dissent, which wai' nLjueded as remarkable by those .'nawng experience in native customs and prejud-

ices. Mr Thompson was deputed to ask the coroner whether it would be necessary to have Ihe body cut up, and the natives appeared contented with the assurance that 110 mutilation would take place unless it. was found to lie absolutely necessary. The taking of th' 1 evidence commenced u.t three o'clock. The first witness called was Frank F. Falckm'r, gasworks employee, who deposed that deceased was standing near the front door at, the Railway Hotel at, about seven o'clock on Wednesday night. There wei'e others wjlt'h hi'iiN Sometime (a. European) said to deceased, "I bet you are not. game to 'go up and kiss that unite woman." Deceased went over and said, " It's a jolly line woman you've got there," and then said something about lighting. Deceased appeared to take a step nearer the woman, when the chap she was witih ( accused) hit him. Deceased fell backwards on to the road, his head .striking the stones, and did not, try to save -himself. He lay on the road for all(Oi»L a .quarter of an hour, and other Maoris poured water over him. They then picked deceased up, and carried Ivim into the hoTo Detective Bishop : When the Maori walked towards tlv woman, she was talking to the accused. Deceased was under Hie -Influence of liquor ; so were some of the other Maoris with him. Witness could not >wv that deceased attempted to kiss" the woman. To tho foreman : Accused struck witness on the face. To Mr Welsh (for accused) : Wit- ! ness knew the woman referred to was mother of Hie accused. Neither the accused nor his mother was holding any conversation with deceased. When deceased approached the woman witness could not sec what he was doing with l.tis hands. Witness could not. say whether accused had his list clenched when he struck, nor did he know the name of the European who had said deceased was not game to kiss the white woman.